title: Malpractice claims related to musculoskeletal imaging. Incidence and anatomical location of lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Failure to detect lesions of the musculoskeletal system is a frequent cause of malpractice claims against radiologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined all the malpractice claims related to alleged errors in musculoskeletal imaging filed against Italian radiologists over a period of 14 years (1993-2006).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period considered, a total of 416 claims for alleged diagnostic errors relating to the musculoskeletal system were filed against radiologists; of these, 389 (93.5%) concerned failure to report fractures, and 15 (3.6%) failure to diagnose a tumour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incorrect interpretation of bone pathology is among the most common causes of litigation against radiologists; alone, it accounts for 36.4% of all malpractice claims filed during the observation period. Awareness of this risk should encourage extreme caution and diligence.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Malattie Infettive L. Spallanzani IRCCS, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fileni
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fileni
authors.forename: Paoletta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mirk
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magnavita
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Magnavita
mesh_terms: D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D007558:Italy; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011871:Radiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*